Building on the work of Dugan et al. (1999, 2000) and Browne and
Williams (1989), this study examined in greater detail the
relationship between intimate partner homicide and the variables
of gender, race, criminal justice system response, and domestic
violence services.

Abstract:

Relevant data were obtained from all 58 counties of California
for the period 1987 through 2000. The study examined the net
effect of criminal justice system response and federally funded
domestic violence shelters on the victimization of white,
African-American, and Hispanic males and females. Criminal
justice system interventions and offender accountability were
measured by arrest, conviction, and incarceration rates for
domestic-violence offenses in each county. Domestic-violence
victim services were measured by the rate of federally funded
shelter-based organizations in each county per 100,000 women by
race. Data were structured according to time and place. First, a
descriptive analysis of statewide trends was conducted in order
to determine changes in rates of intimate partner homicide
victimization, as well as changes in resources and criminal
justice system responses over time. Second, multivariate
regression analyses modeled the effects of the determinants of
between-county variation in intimate partner homicide rates
across time. Overall, rates of intimate partner homicide
victimization declined for all demographic groups over the study
period; however, percentage declines were greater for male
victims (61 percent) than for females (49 percent). The study
found that in urban counties, federally funded domestic-violence,
shelter-based organizations were associated with declines in
Hispanic female victimization, but not African-American or white
female victimization. Also in urban counties, shelters were
associated with declines in African-American male victimization,
but not African-American female victimization. In rural counties,
shelters were associated with overall declines in female
victimization. There was no net relationship between any criminal
justice system response and victimization by either gender or
race. Women generally experienced larger percentage increases in
arrest, prosecution, and conviction than men. Overall, white
female victimization was greater in urban environments than in
rural areas. These findings suggest that funds designed to reduce
domestic violence may do more good if directed toward improving
the reach and quality of shelter-based organizations, rather than
focusing solely on criminal justice system responses to domestic
violence. 11 tables and 18 references

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